Bill O’Brien wants an adaptable and flexible system

Posted by Josh Alper on January 3, 2014, 2:19 PM EDT

AP

The Texans introduced Bill O’Brien as their new head coach at a press conference on Friday and it wasn’t long before O’Brien started fielding questions about what kind of team he’s looking to put together in Houston.

O’Brien didn’t delve into too many specifics and answered a question about his plans at quarterback by saying he wasn’t married to a particular type and wants players that are physically tough, mentally tough and smart at every position. When it comes to offense and defense more generally, O’Brien said that he plans to install schemes that take advantage of the strength of the personnel while also being flexible enough to adapt to the opposition from week to week.

As for that personnel, O’Brien said he thought it was a strong group but, again, didn’t get into specifics about particular strengths and weaknesses.

O’Brien will start meeting with the assistants from Gary Kubiak’s staff on Saturday, including defensive coordinator and interim head coach Wade Phillips, to see if any fit what he’s looking for on his staff. Phillips said he’s willing to stick around to run the defense, although John McClain of the Houston Chronicle writes that no one should be surprised if former Browns and Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel is hired to replace Phillips.

“and wants players that are physically tough, mentally tough and smart at every position.”

Well, there goes drafting Clowney.

atepper001 says:Jan 3, 2014 2:41 PM

if i was a gm interviewing coaches, i would expect the first thing they say to be exactly what he said here –> he plans to install schemes that take advantage of the strength of the personnel while also being flexible enough to adapt to the opposition from week to week.

is anyone else completely dumbfounded why so many coaches are stubborn and hard headed where they need the team to play within their system even if it isn’t working against a specific opponent (or league for that matter) or don’t have the personnel for it? i guess you can look right to the sustainable winners and see how they adapt (pats have had a 3-4 and 4-3 throughout the last 10 years and have been a running team and a passing team) and then look at the coaches who stick with the same gameplan and scheme week after week, year after year and make the playoffs once in a while (lovie smith)

Mentally tough… Hopefully there are no kubiak people out there to cause frustration.

surfinbird1 says:Jan 3, 2014 2:45 PM

Translation = I’m gonna try to copy Belichick.

elliottcovert says:Jan 3, 2014 2:47 PM

Phillips may have had some problems as a head coach, but he’s definitely a fine D-coordinator and I think it would be a mistake to make a change. His players like him a lot and he’s gotten the most out of JJ Watt.

“it comes to offense and defense more generally, O’Brien said that he plans to install schemes that take advantage of the strength of the personnel while also being flexible enough to adapt to the opposition from week to week” = New England Patriots Blueprint to success.

fin72 says:Jan 3, 2014 5:18 PM

Doesn’t he look just like an older, heavier Matt Schaub?

randomcommenter says:Jan 3, 2014 5:38 PM

This is why O’Brien wanted out of college. He wants a complicated offense that can change week to week. In college, you only have 20 hours total of practice and meetings and that includes 3 hours for the game on Saturday.

O’Brien was frustrated by how basic he had to keep things because college kids don’t have time to master a full NFL offense. And if they somehow did mAster it, you have to start all over with new players when they leave.

People don’t realize that while O’Brien did A good job overall at Penn State, he was responsible for at least 4 losses simply because he tried to make his team do too much.

He was smart enough to realize that and knew that he would never be able to do what he wanted in college. It must be frustrating to identify and opponent’s weakness on film and know that you don’t have enough time to install the plays to beat it.